Monte Castrillo Rosado – The Lighter Side of Ribera Del Duero

SRP of $12 and available for $11. Sample submitted for review. 2,500 cases produced. Imported by Grapes of Spain.

From the winery:

“Produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes from vines aged 15 years, planted on brown limestone gravel and grown organically (not certified) at the base of the Castrillo hill on the Torremilanos estate. The vines are trained to wires for better control over ripening. The vineyard is 2,700 feet above sea level, the lowest elevation on the estate.

All of the must from these grapes is used to produce this rose. The grapes are harvested relatively early in the season, about 5 days prior to the harvest of tempranillo from the same vineyards intended for the production of red wine. Ricardo intends to produce a fresh wine with a moderate level of alcohol, so the wine is inviting and lively on the palate. The grapes are harvested, destemmed and left with the skins for about one hour prior to pressing. The grapes were fermented with neutral yeasts at cool temperatures to maintain a brightly fruity character.

14.0% Alcohol”

Ribera Del Duero is one of my favorite regions for big red wines (and a spot I’m dying to visit). Just take a look at some of our recent features on this area:

But hold on — Ribera Del Duero is not 100% big red wines. As evidence I present to you today’s delighful rosé that is a perfect match for summer.

The 2012 Bodegas Penalba Lopez Finca Torremilanos Monte Castrillo Rosado begins with aromas of strawberry, citrus and few light mineral notes. Tasting the wine reveals more citrus, plus a good dose of watermelon and a touch of sea salt. This is a dry rosé that is not very sweet but features lots of good fruit and good acidity. At the end the fruit turns a bit tart and some mineral notes also come to forefront. And while the finish may be on the short side, it certainly entices you to take another sip. Excellent.

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